2 Delco Drug Rings Busted, 22 People Charged: Feds

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Numerous people have been charged in a joint federal and local investigation into drug rings in Delaware County, according to authorities.

Federal and local authorities Wednesday announced two parallel Indictments charging 22 people with drug trafficking and firearms crimes.

All 22 defendants are alleged to be members of rival drug trafficking groups (DTGs) operating next to each other in territories occupying the west side of Chester.

The two rival groups are the "3rd Bone"” (or "3BM") DTG and the "William Penn" ("the Pen" or "Ject Boyz") DTG.

The Indictments announced today arose out of a multi-year joint investigation involving the United States Attorney’s Office, FBI, DEA, Chester City Police, and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.

Details of each Indictment, both unsealed this morning, are provided below.

The first is a 70-count Indictment involving the 3rd Bone DTG.

The Indictment charges one count of conspiracy to distribute crack, cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin; 57 counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; five counts of unlawful use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug felony; three counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; two counts of a felon in possession of a firearm; and aiding and abetting.

Thirteen people, all allegedly part of the 3rd Bone DTG, are named in the Indictment.

They are:

• Deshaun Davis, 34, of Chester;
• Dwayne Butler, 25, of Chester;
• Tyleel Scott-Harper, 23, of Chester;
• Brandon Scott-Harper, 20, of Chester;
• Michael Wright, 20, of Chester;
• Isiah Jenifer, 22, of Chester;
• Frederick Rochester, 27, of Chester;
• Jamel Covington, 29, of Chester;
• Johvon Covington, 30, of Chester;
• Derrick Cooper, 25, of Upland;
• Frederick Donaldson, 25, of Chester;
• Perley Mack, Jr., 24, of Marcus Hook; and
• Shahaad Sterling, 21, of Chester.

The second indictment is a 19-count Superseding Indictment involving the William Penn DTG.

Charges in the indictment are one count of conspiracy to distribute crack, cocaine, and heroin; 12 counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack and cocaine; two counts of possession with intent to distribute crack; two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and two counts of a felon in possession of a firearm.

The following nine individuals, all allegedly part of the William Penn drug trafficking group, are named in the Superseding Indictment:

• Issac Barrett, 33, of Essington;
• Kaleaf Gilbert, 27, of Chester;
• Darnell Bell, 29, of Chester;
• Terrence Womack, 32, of Chester;
• Brennen Lane, 31, of Chester;
• Dion Kattes, 21, of Chester;
• Saequan Womack, 26, of Chester;
• Jamar Bright, 31, of Chester; and
• Kevin Nichols, 57, of Chester.

If convicted, the 22 defendants face at least 20 years of potential imprisonment. Several of the senior members of the two groups, including Davis, Butler, Barrett, and Gilbert, face potential life sentences, authorities said.

The dual Indictments allege that the 3rd Bone and William Penn DTGs controlled adjacent drug territories in the western part of Chester.

The 3rd Bone DTG’s drug operations were centered in the area of 3rd and Lamokin Streets, while the William Penn DTG controlled the drug territory surrounding the Chester Housing Authority’s William Penn Homes.

As alleged in the Indictments, both groups distributed drugs—mainly crack cocaine—to customers in their respective territories, and both groups defended their respective drug territories with armed violence.

This brought them into regular conflict with each other.

The Indictments describe several shootings and other acts of violence carried out between members of the two groups. For example, the Barrett Superseding Indictment alleges that 3rd Bone and William Penn DTG members were involved in an exchange of gunfire on Feb. 21, 2019, in the 700 block of 2nd Street in Chester. After the shooting, the Indictment alleges William Penn DTG members Issac Barrett and Kaleaf Gilbert discussed the incident on the telephone and the two men agreed that one of the victims injured in the shooting "deserve[d] it" for "tr[ying] to hit" Gilbert. Barrett also is accused of putting a $15,000 bounty on the head of one of the rival DTG members that he believed was involved in the shooting.